Accessory and support for electronic devices, systems including the same and methods

ABSTRACT

An accessory for an electronic device, such as a mobile computing device, includes a housing and a support element that are configured to support the electronic device in an inclined orientation. The support element of the accessory may comprise an elongated recess that receives a portion (e.g., an edge portion) of an electronic device to orient and support the electronic device in the inclined orientation. The accessory may also include a peripheral component, such as a user interface component (e.g., a keyboard, a track pad, etc.) or any other component that may enhance or supplement functionality of the electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/532,281, filed on Jun. 25, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.9,218,024, issued Dec. 22, 2015 (“the '281 Application”). The '281application claimed the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), to the Jun.30, 2011, filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/503,467, expired (“the '467 Provisional Application”), and to theJun. 23, 2011, filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/500,570, expired (“the '570 Provisional Application”). The entiredisclosure of each of the '281 Application, the '467 ProvisionalApplication and the '570 Provisional Application are, by this reference,incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to accessories for electronic devicesfor use with electronic devices and, more specifically, for accessoriesfor supporting electronic devices. More particularly, an accessoryaccording to this disclosure may be configured to support an electronicdevice in an at least partially upright, or inclined, orientation. Insome embodiments, the accessory may also be configured to enhance orsupplement a functionality of the electronic device. Additionally, thisdisclosure relates to systems and methods for enhancing thefunctionality of electronic devices.

RELATED ART

Since the advent of mobile computing, efforts have been made to improvethe ease with which portable electronic devices may be used, the speedsat which portable electronic devices operate and the availability andquality of wireless network services, as well as to expand thefunctionality of portable electronic devices. The frequency with whichportable electronic devices are used, and the circumstances andlocations where portable electronic devices are used, areever-increasing. In fact, users who carry portable electronic devicesoften access them many times throughout each day and at multiplelocations.

The portability of state-of-the art electronic devices that areconfigured for use in mobile computing has largely been made possible byadvances in technology that enable all of the components of a portableelectronic device to be assembled into relatively small, lightweightpackages. Many portable electronic devices, such as so-called “smartphones,” are configured to be carried in a pocket of an individual'sclothing, in a carrying case or in a handbag, backpack or the like.Other mobile computing devices, such as so-called “tablet” or “slate”computers, are also configured to be carried within carrying cases,folios, handbags, backpacks or the like.

Because of the small sizes of state-of-the-art portable electronicdevices, the user interface features that enable an individual to enterinformation into the device are also relatively small. For example, somemobile computing devices include small dedicated input devices, such askeyboards and the like. Regardless of their size, however, smalldedicated input devices consume valuable space, decreasing the availabledisplay area of an electronic device or adding to the thickness of theelectronic device. Furthermore, the smaller the input device, the moredifficult it is to use, which may decrease the speed with which anindividual may use the input device.

Other electronic devices include touch sensitive displays, which provideboth output capabilities and input capabilities. Touch sensitivedisplays eliminate the need for actual buttons while enabling themaximization of display sizes. When input functions are required orwanted, a touch sensitive displays may display a virtual keyboard. Bytouching the display at appropriate locations on the virtual keyboard,an individual may type in a manner similar to that employed while usinga keyboard with actual buttons. While touch sensitive displays thatenable the generation and use of virtual keyboards may enableminimization of the size of an electronic device, when a virtualkeyboard is needed or desired, it typically consumes a significantportion of the area of the display, leaving a much smaller viewing area.Although they may maximize display sizes, virtual keyboards may bedifficult to use, and certain users may find their lack of tactileresponse, or haptic feedback, undesirable. Furthermore, small virtualkeyboards may increase the likelihood of typing errors and thedifficulty in correcting such errors.

In an effort to overcome the shortcomings of small input devices andvirtual input devices, a variety of accessories that enhance orsupplement the functionality of electronic devices have been developed.These accessories may, for instance, communicate with manystate-of-the-art electronic devices by way of one or more wirelessprotocols (e.g., the BLUETOOTH® open wireless technology standard, aninfrared communication protocol, etc.). In cases where the accessoriescomprise keyboards, the keyboards may be foldable, flexible, or have areduced size (e.g., width or thickness) to impart them with a desireddegree of portability.

A user of an electronic device (e.g., a tablet, e-reader, smart phone,etc.) may occasionally use the electronic device in connection with astand. The stand may receive and support the electronic device at aninclined angle, which may eliminate the need for an individual to holdthe electronic device in the desired orientation. A stand may orient thedisplay of an electronic device in such a way that an individual canview the display while using a separate accessory, such as a keyboard,to interface with the electronic device. When the keyboard, portableelectronic device, and stand are not in use, each component can bestored separately, or they can be slipped into one or more compartmentsof a storage case or carrying case, a folio or a handbag, backpack orthe like. As the accessory and support are separate from one another,they can consume an undesirably large amount of storage space, and theymay be easily separated from one another.

SUMMARY

An accessory for use with an electronic device is configured to supportan electronic device in a working arrangement, such as an at leastpartially upright, or inclined, orientation, in which an individual mayreadily view or otherwise interact with a display of the electronicdevice. In some embodiments, the accessory may be configured to supportan electronic device in the working arrangement without the assistanceor need for additional or supplemental support from any other apparatus.The accessory may also be configured to enhance or supplementfunctionality of the electronic device.

The accessory may comprise a user interface (e.g., an input device, anoutput device, etc.), such as a keyboard, a track pad or the like.Alternatively, the accessory may be configured to provide other inputfunctionality to the electronic device, or it may be configured toprovide the electronic device with power (e.g., as a battery, etc.),data storage (i.e., it may serve as external memory), or other input oroutput functionality.

The accessory may include a housing, which may carry other components ofthe accessory (e.g., the user interface device, external power supply,data storage, etc.). In addition to carrying other components of theaccessory, the housing may carry, define or otherwise comprise a supportelement. The support element and the housing may be configured to holdan electronic device in a desired working arrangement.

In some embodiments, the support element may comprise an elongatedrecess, such as a groove or channel configured to receive at least anedge portion of an electronic device and to support the electronicdevice. In some embodiments, the support element may also include anoverhang, or lip, which may extend laterally over a front edge of theelongated recess. Such an overhang may be configured to exert leverageagainst a surface of the electronic device at the edge portion in amanner that secures the electronic device in place. More specifically,the overhang and the elongated recess, an opposite corner of the recess,an orientation of the electronic device relative to the accessory andthe weight of the electronic device may create leverage that, when theelectronic device is oriented as desired relative to the accessory,enables the support element to engage the electronic device, holding itin place.

Without limitation, the support element may be configured to orient anelectronic device in the working arrangement, which may comprise aninclined, or angled, orientation relative to a remainder of theaccessory. Of course, the support element may support an electronicdevice in any of a number of other suitable manners as well. In at leastone embodiment, the support element may support an electronic devicewithout requiring or utilizing supplemental support. The support elementmay be configured to support an electronic device without any movingparts.

While an accessory according to this disclosure may be configured to beused as a stand-alone device (i.e., in a system that consistsessentially of or that consists of the accessory and an electronicdevice), in some embodiments, an accessory may be configured forassembly with another accessory or component. For instance, an accessorymay be configured for assembly with and disassembly from a separateprotective case or cover, in which the protective case or cover isconfigured to be assembled with an electronic device in a manner thatprotects one or more surfaces of the electronic device from damage. Sucha protective case or cover may be configured as a folio, like ZAGG Inc'sZAGGFOLIO® folio cover. Such a cover may protect all surfaces of anelectronic device when in a stored (i.e., closed) arrangement, andprotect one or more edges and a back side of the electronic device whenin a use (i.e., open) arrangement. Other types of protective cases orcovers, similar to the ZAGGMATE® protective cases available from ZAGGInc and Logitech, Inc., may protect only part(s) of an electronic device(e.g., its display and peripheral edges, its display, etc.) whenassembled with the electronic device, and may or may not protect theelectronic device while the electronic device is being used.

In other embodiments, the accessory may also be configured for assemblywith an electronic device in a manner that protects at least a portionof the electronic device, or the accessory may comprise a permanent partof a case or cover (e.g., the ZAGGMATE® protective case, etc.).

In another aspect, methods for orienting an electronic device in aworking arrangement are disclosed. An embodiment of such a method mayinclude positioning an edge of an electronic device over an elongatedrecess in an accessory and inserting the edge and adjacent portions ofthe electronic device into the elongated recess. An orientation of theelectronic device may be adjusted to place the electronic device in aworking arrangement relative to the accessory (e.g., the electronicdevice may be oriented at an inclined angle that is non-parallel to theaccessory, etc.). By positioning the electronic device in an inclinedorientation relative to the accessory, the accessory may engage theelectronic device, at least partially securing the edge portion of theaccessory into place within the elongated recess. With the electronicdevice in place, the accessory may be electronically coupled with theelectronic device and used as intended.

When use of the accessory and/or orientation of the electronic device inthe working arrangement are no longer needed, the electronic device maybe positioned in a less inclined orientation relative to the accessory.In some embodiments, repositioning the electronic device in this mannermay cause the accessory to disengage the edge portion of the electronicdevice, releasing it from the accessory. The electronic device may thenbe pulled away from the accessory.

Other aspects, as well as the features and advantages of variousaspects, of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration ofthe ensuing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which features and other aspects ofthe present disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description ofcertain subject matter will be rendered by reference to specificembodiments which are illustrated in the appended drawings.Understanding that these drawings depict only some embodiments and arenot therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope, nor drawn toscale for all embodiments, various embodiments will be described andexplained with additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an accessory for anelectronic device, with the depicted accessory including a keyboard;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the accessory illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side profile view of the accessory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the accessory of FIG. 1, takenalong line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5A is a side profile view of the accessory of FIG. 1, the accessorysupporting an electronic device in an embodiment of a workingarrangement;

FIG. 5B is a side profile view of the accessory of FIG. 1, the accessorysupporting and engaging an electronic device in an embodiment of aworking arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an accessory supportingan electronic device that has been placed in a landscape orientation;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an accessory supportingan electronic device that has been placed in a portrait orientation;

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of an accessory a supportelement of which includes an elongated recess with closed ends;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view that illustrates an embodiment of anaccessory with a support element comprising an elongated recess withopen ends, and showing an embodiment of electronic device supported bythe accessory in a landscape orientation;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the embodiment of accessory shownin FIG. 9, supporting an electronic device in a portrait orientation;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of an accessory,which includes a support element configured to support devices of aplurality of different sizes;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 11 supportinganother embodiment of electronic device positioned in a landscapeorientation; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 11 supporting theelectronic device in a portrait orientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 provide various views of an embodiment of an accessory 100configured for use with an electronic device (not shown in FIGS. 1-4).As shown, the accessory 100 may include a housing 102 that carries atleast one support element 106 for orienting and securing the electronicdevice in a working arrangement. The housing 102 may also carry aperipheral component 104 that enhances or supplements functionality ofthe electronic device.

In FIGS. 1-4, the peripheral component 104 is depicted as comprising akeyboard. Alternatively, or in addition, the peripheral component 104may comprise another type of user interface (e.g., a track pad; an audiointerface, such as a microphone; a video interface, such as a camera; amixer; etc.), an output device (e.g., a peripheral monitor; anothertouch screen display; an audio output device, such as a speaker; etc.),an external power source (e.g., a battery, etc.); a data storage device(e.g., a hard drive, an optical drive, etc.), an additionalcommunication element (e.g., a USB port, a USB micro port, HDMI ports, afirewire interface, an i.LINK interface, a Lynx interface, an 8P8C jack,etc.) or the like. In various embodiments, the peripheral component 104may also include a power supply (e.g., a battery, etc.) to provide powerto its primary features.

The housing 102, as best illustrated by FIG. 4 may include an interiorthat accommodates other elements of the accessory 100. The depictedembodiment of the housing 102 includes a front compartment 142 and arear compartment 144. In embodiments where the peripheral component 104comprises a keyboard, the keyboard and its various features (e.g., itscircuit board, the bases of its keys 110, etc.) and, optionally, weights(which may position a center of gravity of the accessory 100 toward thefront of the accessory 100 to counteract any tendency of an electronicdevice supported in an inclined orientation by the accessory 100 and itssupport element 106 to cause the accessory 100 to tilt backwards) andany other suitable components may be carried by the front compartment142, while other associated components, such as a power supply (e.g., abattery, etc.), a communication component (e.g., a wireless transceiver,etc.) or the like may be carried by the rear compartment 144.

In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 102 is illustrated ascontaining portions of the peripheral component 104 (e.g., the base andcircuitry of the depicted keyboard, etc.) while making other portions ofthe peripheral component 104 (e.g., the keys 110 of the depictedkeyboard, etc.) accessible to an individual. Of course, a peripheralcomponent 104 may be associated with the housing 102 of the accessory100 in any other suitable manner as well (e.g., it may be fullycontained by the housing 102; it may be attached to the housing 102;etc.). In embodiments where the peripheral component 104 comprises akeyboard, the keyboard may have any number of configurations. Forinstance, the keyboard may include any number of keys 110 arranged inany desired pattern or arrangement, and corresponding to any number ofcharacters (e.g., letters, numbers, symbols, etc.) and/or functions(e.g., page up/down controls, volume controls, video controls,cut/copy/paste, power on/off, etc.). In the embodiment of peripheralcomponent 104 illustrated by FIGS. 1-4, the keyboard includes a set ofalphanumeric keys 110 of differing sizes in a QWERTY-style format, orlayout, while also including various keys for directional input,functional controls, and the like. As will be appreciated, a keyboardembodiment of a peripheral component 104 may have any other suitableformat, and may include keys 110 arranged in different patterns, havingthe same or different relative sizes, corresponding to differentcharacters or functions than those depicted, and the like.

The peripheral component 104 of the accessory 100 may be configured tooperate in connection with an electronic device. By way of illustration,the peripheral component may communicate with an electronic device inany suitable manner. For instance, the accessory 100 may be configuredto communicate with an electronic device through a wired connection(e.g., a USB cable or connector, a micro USB cable or connector, aserial cable or connector, a firewire cable or connector, Apple, Inc.'s30-pin cable or connector, etc.) or it may have wireless capabilities(e.g., infrared, BLUETOOTH®, etc.). In embodiments where the peripheralcomponent 104 of the accessory 100 comprises a keyboard, keystrokesentered at the keyboard may be conveyed to the electronic device for asuitable response (e.g., entry of text into a selected “box” or “window”of the electronic device, etc.).

As best illustrated by FIG. 2, an accessory 100 may include one or morecontrol features 112, 114. In some embodiments, one control feature 114is configured to power the peripheral component 104, while anothercontrol feature 112 may be configured to establish communication betweenthe peripheral component 104 and an electronic device. In embodimentswhere the control feature 114 is configured to power the peripheralcomponent 104 on or off, it can be a button or a switch. The controlfeature 114 may indicate whether or not the peripheral component 104 ispowered on and, thus, may communicate with an electronic device. Inembodiments where the other control feature 112 is configured toestablish wireless communication between the peripheral component 104and an electronic device, the control feature 112 may comprise a buttonthat, when the peripheral component 104 and the electronic device arepowered on, may wirelessly couple these devices to one another in amanner known in the art. In some embodiments, one or more statusindicators 116, 118 may be used to provide an individual with anindication of a status of the accessory 100. As non-limiting examples, astatus indicator 116, 118 may specify: whether the peripheral component104 is powered on or off; whether or not the peripheral component 104 iscoupled with, or connected to, an electronic device; the strength ofconnection to an electronic device; a type of connection with theelectronic device; or the like. Each status indicator 116, 118 mayinclude a light-emitting diode (LED), which may be configured to changebetween on and off states and/or between a plurality of different onstates (e.g., which may be represented by different colors, steady andblinking states, blinking at different rates and or in differentpatterns, etc.).

In one example, a status indicator 118 may have one state (e.g., nolight or color, etc.) when the peripheral component 104 is powered off.When the peripheral component 104 is powered on, the status indicator118 may light up. Further, the status indicator 118 may light up in afirst color when the peripheral component 104 is powered on, but one ormore different colors during other activities (e.g., low batterywarning, to indicate that the battery is charging, that the peripheralcomponent 104 is in a standby mode, etc.).

In another example, when the peripheral component 104 is connected to anelectronic device using a wired or wireless connection, the statusindicator 116 may light up or otherwise indicate that a connection hasbeen established. Depending on the type of connection, the color ormanner in which the status indicator 116 operates may vary. Forinstance, if wired connection is made, the status indicator 116 maylight up in a particular color. If a wireless connection is made, thestatus indicator 116 may light up in a different color. The state of thestatus indicator 116 may also vary based on other factors, such as thetype of wireless connection.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4, the support element 106 of anaccessory 100 is configured to be used in connection with an electronicdevice. The support element 106 may be configured for use with aparticular type of electronic device (or electronic devices having aspecific configuration and/or dimension(s)) or with electronic deviceshaving a variety of different configurations and dimensions.

The support element 106 may be configured to orient an electronic devicein a working arrangement, such as an inclined orientation, or an atleast partially upright orientation, relative to the housing 102 of theaccessory 100 (i.e., when a base of the housing 102 is placed on ahorizontal or substantially horizontal support surface). The supportelement 106 may be positioned at a location relative to the remainder ofthe housing 102 that enables the housing 102 to stably support anelectronic device as the electronic device is held in an inclinedorientation. As shown, the support element 106 may be located off-centerin relation to a depth of the housing 102 (i.e., the dimension from afront edge 134 of the housing 102 to a rear edge 140 of the housing102), but well in front of the rear edge 140 of the housing 102, leavinga sufficient portion of the housing 102 to counter the effects ofgravity on an electronic device supported in an inclined orientation bythe support element 106 and the remainder of the accessory 100.

The support element 106 may include an elongated recess 108, which mayextend at least partially across a width of the housing 102. Moreparticularly, the elongated recess 108 may comprise a groove or achannel 109 in an upper surface of the housing 102. As best illustratedin FIGS. 3 and 4, the groove or channel 109 may be defined by varioussurfaces of the housing 102. In the illustrated embodiment, a basesurface 120, which is recessed relative to a top surface 128 of thehousing 102 and which may be oriented generally parallel to a topsurface 128 and/or a base surface 130 of the housing 102, defines alower extent of the groove or channel 109. The groove or channel 109 mayalso include front and rear surfaces 124 and 122, respectively, whichmay be oriented transverse to the base surface 120. A width of thegroove or channel 109 (e.g., a distance between the front surface 124and the rear surface 122, etc.) may accommodate the width of a portionof an electronic device to be inserted therein.

In at least one embodiment, the groove or channel 109 is open at the topsurface 128 of the housing 102. Of course, a depth of the groove orchannel 109 may be less than a thickness of the housing 102.Accordingly, the base surface 120 of the groove or channel 109 may be atleast partially offset from the base surface 130 of the housing 102. Invarious embodiments, the groove or channel 109 may extend only slightlyinto the housing 102, or it may extend substantially through the housing102. For instance, the groove or channel 109 may extend through theaccessory 100 to a base of the housing 102 (e.g., the upper surface of asubstantially planar element that forms the base surface 130 of thehousing 102).

In other embodiments, a groove or channel 109 may extend completelythrough the housing 102 and, thus, lack a base surface 120.

In a specific embodiment, the groove or channel 109 may have a depth ofabout one-eighth inch (about 3.17 mm) to about three-quarters inch(about 19.05 mm) deep, and has a width that is approximately one-hundredpercent to about two-hundred percent of the width of an electronicdevice 150 (FIGS. 5A-7) that may be supported by the support element 106and the remainder of the accessory 100. The width of the groove orchannel 109 at its base surface 120 may be about one-quarter inch (about6.35 mm) to about three-quarters inch (about 19.05 mm). The groove orchannel 109 may be sized and configured to enable an electronic deviceto be inclined and to create a leverage to selectively and removablysecure the electronic device 150 in place relative to the accessory 100.

In some embodiments, a relatively wide groove or channel 109 may beconfigured to receive one or more inserts 127 (see FIG. 5B.) toaccommodate relatively thin portions of electronic devices. Such aninsert 127 may effectively decrease the width of the groove or channel109 and, in some embodiments, effectively change the angle at which thegroove or channel 109 orients an electronic device.

In addition to including a groove or channel 109 with front and rearsurfaces 124 and 122, respectively, a support element 106 of anaccessory 100 may include other features (e.g., lips, ridges, grooves,other wall features (e.g., curvatures, undulations, other non-planarconfigurations, etc.), coatings, etc.) that may at least partiallysupport and/or engage an edge portion of an electronic device 150 (FIGS.5A-7). As a non-limiting example, a lip or overhang may extend from afront of the groove or channel 109 (e.g., from the front surface 124,from a location laterally adjacent to the front surface 124, from alocation above the front surface 124, etc.), over a portion of thegroove or channel 109. In some embodiments, such as that depicted byFIGS. 3 and 4, the lip or overhang may be defined by an insert 127,which may be provided along and cover part of or all of the frontsurface 124 of the groove or channel 109. A surface of the insert 127that faces the groove or channel 109 may define a second front surface126 of the groove or channel 109. Although the drawings depict the lipor overhang as being defined by an insert 127, it may be formed as partof the groove or channel 109, any other embodiment of an elongatedrecess or any other embodiment of a support element 106.

The support element 106 may, in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent disclosure, be configured to support an electronic device 150(see FIG. 5A) at an inclined angle relative to the housing 102. Forinstance, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear surface 122 of the groove orchannel 109 is oriented at an obtuse angle. More particularly, the rearsurface 122 may be oriented at an angle φ relative to a line L (see FIG.3). The line L of the illustrated embodiment is about normal to the basesurface 130 of the accessory 100, and to the base surface 120 of thesupport element 106, although the angle φ may be defined with respect toany particular line or plane. Regardless of the manner in which theangle φ is defined, the degree of the angle φ may vary as desired. Forinstance, in some embodiments, the angle φ may be about zero and therear surface 122 and/or the groove or channel 109 may be aboutperpendicular to the base 130 of the accessory 100 and/or the basesurface 120 of the support element 106. In other embodiments, the angleφ may be larger than zero. By way of illustration and not by way oflimitation, the angle φ may be greater than zero degrees up to aboutsixty degrees.

The cross-sectional shape of the groove or channel 109 may vary based onthe relative orientations of its surfaces 120, 122 and 124 and,optionally, 126. Indeed, in some embodiments, such as those illustratedin FIGS. 1-4, the shape of the groove or channel 109 optionally variesalong a length of the groove or channel 109. For instance, at one ormore locations, the cross-sectional shape of the groove or channel 109may be defined by the base surface 120, the rear surface 122, and thefront surface 124, while the cross-sectional shape at one or more otherlocations of the groove or channel 109 may be defined by the basesurface 120, the rear surface 122 and the second front surface 126 of aninsert 127 or similarly configured feature.

The front surface(s) 124, 126 of the groove or channel 109 mayoptionally be oriented at an angle relative to the line L, the basesurface 120, the base surface 130, or some other reference line orplane. In some embodiments, for instance, the front surface(s) 124, 126may be oriented parallel or substantially parallel to the rear surface122 of the groove or channel 109. In such an embodiment, the groove orchannel 109 may have a somewhat parallelogram-shaped cross-section. InFIG. 3, a cross-sectional shape of the groove or channel 109 may begenerally trapezoidal. For instance, the rear surface 122 and the frontsurface(s) 124, 126 may be oriented non-parallel to one another, whilethe base surface 120 of the groove or channel 109 and the top surface128 of the housing 102 may be parallel or substantially parallel to oneanother. In embodiments where the groove or channel 109 includes two ormore front surfaces 124 and 126, those front surfaces 124 and 126 may beoriented at different angles. For instance, in one embodiment, the basesurface 120 and front surface 124 may define an obtuse angle, while thefront surface 126 and the base surface 120 may be oriented perpendicularto one another. Thus, in some embodiments, a second front surface 126may be parallel or substantially parallel to the line L.

In addition to the peripheral component 104 and the support element 106,the housing 102 of the accessory 100 may carry any number of additionalcomponents or features. In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,protective pads 132 may be positioned on the base surface 130 of thehousing 102 of the accessory 100. The protective pads 132 may have anysuitable configuration to protect the base surface 130 of the accessory100, to protect a surface (e.g., a desktop, a tabletop, etc.) thatsupports the accessory 100, and/or to engage (e.g., frictionally, byreleasable adhesion, etc.) a surface that supports the accessory 100.

An accessory 100 may also include one or more retention structures 134to enable assembly of the accessory 100 with, and its retention by,another complementary apparatus (e.g.,. a protective case, a folio,etc.) or structure. In FIGS. 3 and 4, for instance, the depictedembodiment of retention structure 134 includes a groove, slot, detent,or other structure formed adjacent to side edges of the housing 102,although a retention structure 134 may be located at any suitablelocation.

Still other optional features of an accessory 100 may be configured toprotect an electronic device with which the accessory 100 is configuredto be used, such as the depicted protective elements 136 and 138. In thedepicted embodiments, the protective elements 136 and 138 are positionedat various locations on the top surface 128 of the housing 102. Morespecifically, the protective element(s) 136 may be positioned at or nearthe rear 140 of the housing 102, while the protective element(s) 138 maybe positioned atop an insert 127 located adjacent to the front surface124 of the groove or channel 109. Of course, protective elements may bepositioned at one or more alternate or additional locations. As analternative to the depicted embodiment, in which the protective elements136 and 138 are distinct elements that are secured to other features ofthe housing 102, protective elements may be integrally formed with otherelements of the housing 102. For instance, a protective element maycomprise part of or all of the top surface 128 of the housing 102.

Protective elements 136, 138 are useful in embodiments where the topsurface 128 of the housing 102 is configured to be occasionallypositioned against a surface of an electronic device 150 (FIGS. 5A-7).Such an arrangement of the accessory 100 and an electronic device 150may occur where the electronic device 150 is stored with the accessory100.

The protective elements 136 and 138 may be formed of a materialconfigured to reduce a risk of damage to the display, housing, or otherelements of an electronic device 150 (FIGS. 5A-7). For instance, theprotective elements 136 and 138 may protrude from the top surface 128 ofthe housing 102 and cushion surfaces of an electronic device 150positioned on the top surface 128. The protective elements 136 and 138may be configured to absorb a shock generated by impact on theelectronic device 150 or the accessory 100. In some embodiments, theprotective elements 136, 138 may comprise a compressible, resilientmaterial. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to,ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam (which is commonly referred to as“foam rubber” and as “expanded rubber”), polyurethane foam (e.g.,microcellular polyurethane foam; fine-celled, low compression-set, highdensity polyurethane foam; etc.), neoprene and a variety of othermaterials having desired characteristics.

As disclosed previously herein, the support element 106 of an accessory100 is configured to orient an electronic device 150 in a workingarrangement. FIGS. 5A-7 illustrate various views of an embodiment ofaccessory 100 supporting an electronic device 150 in an inclined, or atleast partially upright, working arrangement. The portable electronicdevice 150 may be positioned in a landscape orientation, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, or in a portrait orientation, as illustrated by FIG. 7.

The accessory 100 and its housing 102 and support element 106 may beconfigured to support a single type of electronic device 150 or aplurality of different types (and shapes and sizes) of electronicdevices 150. Without limitation, the accessory 100 may be configured foruse with a portable electronic device 150, such as a so-called “tablet”or “slate” computer, a smart phone, an e-reader or other mobilecomputing devices or the like. Examples of tablet computers that may beused with an accessory 100 include, but are not limited to the IPAD®available from Apple Inc., the Motorola Mobility, Inc.'s XOOM™, theBLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK™ from Research in Motion Limited, the STREAK™available from Dell Inc., and Hewlett-Packard Co.'s TOUCHPAD™, amongothers. An accessory 100 may be configured for use with virtually anysmart phone, including, without limitation, Apple, Inc.'s IPHONE®s, theSamsung GALAXY®, and Research In Motion Limited's BLACKBERRY® phones.Among the various types of e-readers and other mobile computing deviceswith which an accessory 100 may be used are the IPOD TOUCH® availablefrom Apple Inc., the KINDLE® available from Amazon Technologies, Inc.,the NOOK™ available from Barnes & Noble, Inc., the DS™ available fromNintendo Co., Ltd., and the like.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an embodiment of the manner in which a supportelement 106 may support an electronic device 150 in an at leastpartially upright position. An edge portion 152 of the electronic device150 may be assembled with the support element 106, such as by insertingthe edge portion 152 into a groove or channel 109 of the support element106. Once the edge portion 152 of the electronic device 150 has beeninserted into the groove or channel 109, the electronic device 150 maybe rotated about the edge portion 152 through the angle θ (e.g., anopposite edge of the electronic device 150 may be moved toward a rear140 of the housing 102, etc.) to the illustrated inclined orientation.As indicated previously herein, the groove or channel 109 may beconfigured to orient the electronic device 150 at one or more inclinedangles relative to the housing 102 of the accessory 100. For instance,the rear surface 122 and/or the front surface 124, 126 of the groove orchannel 109, an insert 127 in the groove or channel 109 and/or any otherfeature associated with the groove or channel 109 may be configured(e.g., oriented at an angle, etc.) to orient the electronic device 150at a desired angle (e.g., a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle, aperpendicular angle, etc.) to one or both of the base surface 120 of thegroove or channel 109 and the base surface 130 of the housing 102. Thephantom lines in FIG. 5A depict an embodiment where the electronicdevice 150 may be supported perpendicularly relative to the housing 102.In other embodiments, the electronic device 150 may be oriented at anon-perpendicular angle. In FIG. 5A, the angle θ defines an angle atwhich the electronic device 150 is offset from a vertical, upright, orother orientation. The angle θ may measure an angle between theelectronic device 150 and a line that is about normal relative to across-sectional length of the housing 102. The magnitude of the angle θmay vary as desired. For instance, and without limitation, the angle θvaries between about zero and about sixty degrees.

In such an orientation, leverage or some other mechanical advantage maylimit further rotation of the electronic device 150 and, in someembodiments, at least partially secure the edge portion 152 of theelectronic device 150 in the groove or channel 109. More particularly,to create such leverage, the housing 102 may be configured to providetwo or more offset contacts. In the embodiment in FIG. 5A, such contactsmay correspond to locations along both a front surface 156 and rearsurface 158 of the portable electronic device 150. For instance, therear surface 158 may contact the angled rear surface 122 of the grooveor channel 109. Such contact may occur at a point, at one or morepoints, or substantially continually along a contact axis or surfaceextending laterally along all or a portion of the width (i.e., into thepage) of the housing 102. The contact is represented by reference A andis, in this embodiment, located at or near a junction between an uppersurface 128 of the housing 102 and the rear surface 122 of the groove orchannel 109. A second contact may be present and in this embodiment isrepresented by reference B. Contact B may exist at one or more points,along an axis or plane, or in another manner, and can be located at thefront surface 124, 126 of the groove or channel 109. More particularly,in the illustrated embodiment, contact B may be at a location at or neara junction between the base surface 120 and the front surface 124, 126of the groove or channel 109. Contact B may, of course, belongitudinally offset (relative to a height, or thickness, of thehousing 102) from the top surface 128 of the housing 102 and located ator near the base surface 120 of the groove or channel 109. Contact B isoptionally nearer the peripheral component 104 than contact A, althoughsuch an embodiment is not limiting. Accordingly, in some embodiments,contacts A and B may be offset in at least two directions (e.g.,horizontally and vertically in the orientation shown in FIG. 5A, etc.).Additionally, while only two contacts are specifically described, theelectronic device 150 may engage the support element 106 at more thantwo points, along more than two axes, along one or more planar or othersurfaces, or in any number of other manners that enable the housing 102and the support element 106 to support the electronic device 150 in aninclined orientation.

Sufficient leverage may also be created in a number of other ways. Inembodiments where the support element 106 includes a lip or overhangextending laterally over a front edge of the groove or channel 109, suchas that shown in FIG. 5B, a rear surface 158 of the electronic device150 may contact the support element 106 at a contact A. To create ormaintain a leveraged state, at least one other edge or corner of theedge portion 152 of the electronic device 150 may engage the supportelement 106 at one or more other locations. In the illustratedembodiment, the front surface 156 of the electronic device 150 mayengage the front surface 126 of the groove or channel 109 at contact C.Another contact D may be made between a location on the front surface156 of the electronic device 150 and an underside or corner of the lipor overhang. As will be appreciated, contacts A, C and D may be offsetin two or more dimensions. For instance, relative to the side viewillustrated in FIG. 5B, contact C is offset vertically downward and tothe right of contacts A and D. Contact D may also be offset verticallydownward and to the right of contact A, although not to the same degreeas contact C in this particular embodiment. The degree of offset may beused to maintain the electronic device 150 in a leveraged state thatenables the electronic device 150 to remain securely in place withouttipping.

As is already apparent from the foregoing, the groove or channel 109 orany other embodiment of support element 106 may create sufficientleverage to support the electronic device 150 in an inclinedorientation. The leverage created by the support element 106 may besufficient to support the electronic device 150 in the absence ofsupport from additional or supplemental apparatuses. For instance, thesupport element 106 may create enough leverage at the edge portion 152of the electronic device 150 to maintain the electronic device 150 inthe illustrated working arrangement even absent utilization of a standor an external (to the accessory 100) support (e.g., a counterweight,etc.).

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of accessory 200 in which a support element106 (FIGS. 1-7) includes a groove or channel 109 (FIGS. 1-7) with atleast one closed end. As an electronic device 250 is positioned withinthe groove or channel 109, a side 246 of the accessory 200, which closesoff an end of the groove or channel 109, may prevent lateral sliding ofthe electronic device 250 beyond the side 246. Such a configuration mayprevent at least some inadvertent disassembly of the electronic device250 from the accessory 200.

Turning now to FIGS. 9 and 10, another embodiment of an accessory 300 isillustrated. The accessory 300 may include features similar to thosediscussed above relative to accessories 100 and 200. As shown theaccessory 300 may have a width that is about the same as or smaller thana width and/or height of an electronic device 350 with which theaccessory 300 is configured to be used. Thus, when assembled with andsupported by the accessory 300 and its support element 306, theelectronic device 350 may extend laterally beyond one or both sides 346of the accessory 300. To enable the accessory 300 to accommodate anelectronic device 350 with such dimensions, one or both of the ends ofthe support element 306 may be open. In such an embodiment, theelectronic device 350 may extend to a location laterally beyond thelateral ends of the support element 306 and the side surfaces 346 of theaccessory 300 while being engaged by the support element 306.

Additional or other features may also be utilized to extend the numberof electronic devices with which an accessory according to the presentdisclosure may be used. In this regard, FIGS. 11-13 illustrate anembodiment of an accessory 400 that is configured to support electronicdevices of a variety of different thicknesses.

With reference to FIG. 11, the accessory 400 includes a support element406 that includes an elongated recess 409 with regions 408 a and 408 bof different widths. More specifically, a wide region 408 b may belocated between two narrow regions 408 a. With this arrangement, regions408 a, along with region 408 b, may accommodate a relatively large butthin electronic device, while region 408 b may accommodate a relativelythick but small electronic device. Even more specifically, regions 408 aand 408 b together may accommodate an electronic device having a widthand/or height that is larger than the length of region 408 b and athickness that is less than the width(s) of region(s) 408 a, whileregion 408 b alone may accommodate an electronic device that is thickerthan the width(s) of region(s) 408 a but has a width or height that issmaller than the length of region 408 b.

FIGS. 12 and 13 depict an example of an electronic device 450 that istoo thick to be inserted into regions 408 a or that has a thickness thatmay prevent it from fitting easily within regions 408 a, but nonethelessmay be accommodated by region 408 b. As illustrated, region 408 b may belong enough to accommodate the electronic device 450 while in alandscape orientation (FIG. 12) or in a portrait orientation (FIG. 13).In other embodiments, the length of region 408 b may be tailored toprevent thicker electronic devices 450 (e.g., electronic devices withthicknesses that exceed the width(s) of region(s) 408 a, etc.) frombeing supported in a landscape orientation. Alternatively, a longer wideregion 408 b may accommodate a wider variety of electronic devices.

Although the wide region 408 b is illustrated as intersecting the narrowregion 408 a in such a way that the elongated recess 409 includesmultiple regions of different dimensions, it should be appreciated thatsuch an embodiment is merely exemplary. In other embodiments, a seriesof two or more generally parallel, but non-intersecting channels may beused for multiple, different portable electronic devices.

Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of any of the appended claims,but merely as providing information pertinent to some specificembodiments that may fall within the scopes of the appended claims.Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. Inaddition, other embodiments of the present disclosure may also bedevised which lie within the scopes of the disclosure and the appendedclaims. The scopes of the claims are, therefore, indicated and limitedonly by the language used therein and the legal equivalents to theelements of the appended claims. All additions, deletions andmodifications that fall within the meaning and scopes of the appendedclaims are to be embraced thereby.

What is claimed:
 1. An accessory for an electronic device, comprising: ahousing including: a support element comprising an elongated recessextending at least partially across a width of the housing, the supportelement configured to receive an edge portion of an electronic device,to hold the electronic device in an inclined orientation and, along withthe housing, to support the electronic device in the inclinedorientation, the support element including at least one lip located at afront side of the support element and protruding over a portion of thesupport element, a recessed area defined by the at least one lip and afront surface of the support element, wherein, upon insertion of an edgeportion of an electronic device into the support element, an edge of theelectronic device rests upon at least a portion of a base of the supportelement, a back surface of the edge portion of the electronic devicerests upon at least a portion of a rear edge of the support element, anda front surface of the edge portion of the electronic device is disposedagainst an edge of the lip.
 2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein thehousing is configured to impart the accessory with portability.
 3. Theaccessory of claim 1, wherein the housing has a thickness of about 0.375inch or less.
 4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the housing has athickness of about one centimeter or less.
 5. The accessory of claim 1,wherein the support element extends completely across a width of thehousing.
 6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein ends of the supportelement open to the opposite sides of the housing.
 7. The accessory ofclaim 1, wherein a rear surface of the support element is oriented at anobtuse angle relative to a base of the support element.
 8. The accessoryof claim 1, wherein a rear surface of the support element is oriented atan obtuse angle relative to the base of the support element.
 9. Theaccessory of claim 1, wherein the support element includes a pluralityof regions configured for use with electronic devices of differentwidths.
 10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the support element andthe housing are configured to completely support the electronic devicein the inclined orientation.
 11. The accessory of claim 1, furthercomprising: a peripheral component carried by the housing.
 12. Theaccessory of claim 11, wherein the peripheral component comprises a userinterface accessible from the top surface of the housing.
 13. Theaccessory of claim 12, wherein the user interface comprises a keyboard.14. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured forassembly with another accessory.
 15. The accessory of claim 14, whereinthe housing is configured for assembly with a folio or a case for theelectronic device.
 16. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the top surfaceof the housing is configured to be disposed against a display of theelectronic device.
 17. A method for enhancing functionality of anelectronic device, comprising: inserting an edge portion of anelectronic device into an elongated recess of a support element of anaccessory to physically secure the electronic device in an inclinedorientation, wherein, upon inserting the edge portion of the electronicdevice into the support element, an edge of the electronic device restsupon at least a portion of a base of the support element, a back surfaceof the edge portion of the electronic device rests upon at least aportion of a rear edge of the support element, and a front surface ofthe edge portion of the electronic device is disposed against an edge ofa lip located at a front side of the support element and protruding overa portion of the support element.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: establishing electronic communication between the electronicdevice and a peripheral component of the accessory; and using theperipheral component with the electronic device while the accessoryprovides sole support for the electronic device in the inclinedorientation.
 19. The method of claim 18, comprising using the peripheralcomponent with the electronic device while the support element of theaccessory provides sole support for the electronic device in theinclined orientation.
 20. The method of claim 18, comprising using theperipheral component with the electronic device while the elongatedrecess of the support element of the accessory provides sole support forthe electronic device in the inclined orientation.